Collection of Personal Information
We only collect your personal information through City websites or mobile applications when you voluntarily provide it to us. This includes when you:
- Participate in an online forum, poll or survey;
- Fill in a feedback or contact form;
- Request further information about a specific topic;
- Send us an email; or,
- Create a user profile for online services.
The collection, use and disclosure of personal information is limited to information critical to providing City services.
You will be provided with a notice of collection before any personal information is collected through our websites or mobile applications. If you choose not to provide personal information online, you can contact the City by telephone, fax, mail or in person. (Not all options may be available in every situation).
Use of Personal Information
Whenever the City collects your personal information, it will be used in accordance with the consent you have provided to deliver the services you have requested.
User Profiles
When you register for a web or mobile account, your personal information will be used to build your user profile. Your user profile helps the City to understand your preferences and helps us to deliver services in a way that is relevant to you. Your user profile may grow as you consent to providing additional personal information to facilitate various online services and/or transactions.
You can review and correct any information in your user profile online.
Sharing or Disclosing Your Personal Information
Your personal information will not be disclosed except to authorized personnel (which may include elected officials, managers, employees, volunteers, contractors and vendors) for the purpose of addressing your feedback and/or to provide you with services you have registered for or otherwise requested.
We do not trade, rent or sell your information to any outside company or organization. We will not reveal specific information about you to unaffiliated third parties for their independent use, except if required to do so by law.
Transactions Where Your Personal Information Enters a System of Record
The City has a number of applications and databases that are required to administer City services. Information that is provided to us online through our website(s) may be processed and stored in a separate, secured, City database.
Tracking Your Website Visit
When you visit Brampton.ca, the City’s web server automatically collects a limited amount of information related to your visit such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address, the type of browser used, the date and time of your visit, and the IP address locations to which you linked during your visit to our site. This information is used for statistical analysis, evaluation of the effectiveness our website, and to plan for future services.
We Use Google Analytics and Cookies
Google Analytics is a web analytics tool used to analyze website traffic. All data provided by Google Analytics to the City is anonymized (i.e. it is not possible to identify any particular individual website user from the data provided). The data provided by Google Analytics helps the City to understand:
- How typical users navigate to the City’s website;
- The typical demographics of website users (specifically age, gender and interests); and,
- How the City’s website is typically used (specifically time spent on the website, pages visited, how users navigate through the website).
Google Analytics uses cookies, which are temporary files that may be placed on your hard drive while you visit the City’s website. The City also uses cookies to optimize the browsing experience collecting statistical information such as network speed, device type, browser type, and screen size. Cookies are used to track how visitors use Brampton.ca, but the City does not store personal information through cookies, nor does the City collect personal information from you without your knowledge as you browse this website.
The City also uses cookies for Government to Citizen (G2C) claim based authentication after you choose to register and sign in to your user account you have created with the City, but that cookie will be encrypted and will comply with strict security and encryption standards.
This information provided by Google Analytics and cookies helps us to improve both the websites and the City’s online services. The information collected is strictly anonymous and is not disclosed to any third parties. However, if you have concerns, you can take the following steps:
- You can opt-out of having making your site activity available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on; and,
- You can adjust your web browser to reject all cookies (however, this may affect your use of the City’s websites and services).
Authenticating to the City Website Using Social Media
Social media accounts, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, are provided by third parties who have their own terms of use, policies, procedures and privacy policies. When you use your social media accounts to authenticate to a City website, you do so at your own risk.
When you choose to authenticate to the City websites using your social media, the City will be able to see information contained within your public profile. The City collects and uses the email address and name that are associated with your social media account. The City will not otherwise use your personal information contained within your public profile (including your contact lists) without your knowledge and consent.
Online Transactions
You can pay for some City Services (e.g. recreation programs, dog license renewals and parking tickets) on the City’s websites. We do not process any payment transaction on the City’s infrastructure; we redirect it to our transaction processor vendor who is compliant with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS).
These transactions are done through SSL-encrypted technology. This means that your payment information is transmitted to us securely. After your transaction is complete, we do not retain your credit card or payment information.
Email Newsletters
We comply with Canada's anti-spam law when you to subscribe to our email newsletters. When you subscribe, you authorize us to collect information about yourself to send you an email newsletter from time to time and for notification and/or account maintenance/recovery purposes. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email newsletter.
Third Party Vendors
The City of Brampton uses third party vendors to provide it with technology infrastructure, systems and software to operate its websites and to provide services to Brampton residents. Where personal information is disclosed to vendors, the City requires the vendors to use your personal information in accordance with City By-laws, policies and procedures.
Changes to Practices
As technology evolves, City practices and procedures related to privacy protection may change. Check back routinely to be sure you have the latest information.
Questions?
Questions about the City’s websites can be directed to itservicedesk@brampton.ca.
